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A lot is at stake with the new Trump administration: California鈥檚 water projects, its unique authority to clean its air, federal support for offshore wind and disaster aid for wildfires.

Bikers 鈥� many of whom love their noisy combustion engines 鈥� say zero-emission motorcycles aren鈥檛 ready for long-distance rides. Motorcycles emit an 鈥渙utsized portion鈥� of smog-causing pollutants.

The Legislative Analyst鈥檚 Office says the state鈥檚 $16-an-hour minimum can鈥檛 dispel poverty or inequality, though it鈥檚 among the highest in the U.S.

California鈥檚 poverty rate climbed and its working poor grew this spring, says the Public Policy Institute of California. Safety net programs played a major role in poverty rate changes.

After years of planning a broadband system to bridge California鈥檚 digital divide, officials deprioritized some low-income areas due to unexpected costs. Gov. Gavin Newsom says he鈥檚 committed to funding the entire network, but advocates are skeptical.

More workers are filing claims with the state alleging employers are retaliating against them for engaging in legally protected activities, such as seeking overtime pay or reporting wage theft or discrimination. The state鈥檚 waitlist for investigations and hearings is growing, and few workers have won their claims.

Many California caregivers are aging immigrants making near-minimum wage. Two bills to improve pay and safety could benefit elderly Californians facing a caregiver shortage.

As pandemic relief dollars dwindle, low income families still need help recovering, advocates say. Two bills would expand California鈥檚 earned income and young child tax credits for families making as much as $30,000.